The question of dual citizenship and what the constitution for an Independent Bermuda would look like were two of the issues raised at the Bermuda Independence Commission meeting in St. David's last night.

Myles Outerbridge and several other residents expressed concern over possibly losing their British passports should Bermuda vote for Independence.

Mr. Outerbridge said he wasn't sure he was “thoroughly educated” by the BIC meetings, adding that he had been to two.

On the question of his British passport, Mr. Outerbridge said that by losing his British passport, he would lose a certain amount of independence.

Mr. Outerbridge told the audience of almost 50 that he felt a Bermudian passport would do him about as much good as Bermudian dollars in the rest of the world.

BIC Chairman Bishop Vernon Lambe confirmed that British nationality could be lost following Independence.

“This is not an issue that has been put to bed. We are talking about dual nationality,” he said.

But he was quick to add that following Independence there would be many Bermudians who would lose their nationality if they did not have ties to the United Kingdom.

Despite Bishop Lambe's statement that Bermuda would be recognised worldwide, Mr. Outerbridge and several other members of the audience shook their heads.

Mr. Outerbridge also wanted to know if Bermudians would see a proposal of what the new constitution would look like before deciding on Independence.

“I would not want to vote for the unknown,” he said.

Bishop Lambe said the “education process” was the first step during which time the public was granted the privilege of asking questions and then responding - be it in an election or referendum.

He said depending on this response, the Government would be offered the opportunity, or invitation, to attend a constitutional conference in the United Kingdom, adding that by this stage the community will have been educated.

Bishop Lambe reiterated that the Commission will hand a report to the Government by the end of this month.

Meanwhile the Decolonisation Committee (SC24) meets at the UN later this month and a representative from Bermuda is expected to attend, as are representatives from six other countries in the Caribbean still under British rule.